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Is it dangerous to clean your computer with compressed air or vacuum?
nctnico:
I use both a compressor or vacuum cleaner (not at the same time). IMHO the trick is to be careful so I keep the opening from the vacuum cleaner away from the electronics and set the pressure on the compressor low.
CatalinaWOW:
There are several potential dangers from compressed air. In my experience, in order of likelihood they are:
1. Getting dust or other particles in your eyes. Wear eye protection. Much more important if using high pressure air.
2. Physically breaking or ejecting components. This is almost entirely limited to use of 100 psi or more air from a shop compressor. I have had parts come out of sockets, entire blades come out of fans, covers come off relays and other similar events. Most, but not all easily repairable. Again read number 1. These things could put your eye out.
I have never encountered a problem from static charge using compressed air, but my nozzles are metallic and I am grounded. It is a theoretical possibility.
Vacuuming has it's own set of dangers:
1. Physically removing or breaking components. Almost always repairable, almost always a pain to find the part in the vacuum bin, so falls outside the easy repair category. Especially if you don't notice the removal right away.
2. Static charge. This is very equipment specific, but I have one shop vacuum which has very high airflow, with plastic hoses, waste bin and attachments. This routinely builds up charges that cause painful muscle spasms if they jump to my hand. I would assume that this vacuum cleaner is very dangerous to electronics. Easy problem to rectify by using a grounded metal wand.
bitseeker:
--- Quote from: nctnico on June 23, 2016, 04:41:06 pm ---I use both a compressor or vacuum cleaner (not at the same time).
--- End quote ---
These can work well together. Have the vacuum near the PC, placed like you would a fume extractor. Commence with the compressor, blowing everything toward the vacuum. Of course, if you blast it with very high pressure, the vacuum won't be much help.
Using the compressor outside is still the best option, but if you're stuck working indoors, the vacuum helps.
vodka:
--- Quote --- Getting dust or other particles in your eyes. Wear eye protection. Much more important if using high pressure air
--- End quote ---
And how can you put dust into eyes? i have done a many times and i never put dust into eyes , and with filter vacuum cleaner that is the worse.
richnormand:
I have cleaned computers with the shop compressed air many times. Never an issues with static. I use a fine metal tube, 1mm or so, at about 100psi.
I have a soldering station air intake that captures most of the ejected dust. I connect it to a large cardboard box over the computer. Otherwise the whole bench would get dirty and I really do not want to breathe that junk. In particular if the machine comes from a smoker's house....
I always wear eye protection. Having a metal lathe and milling machine you realise quickly that a loose metal shaving getting in your eye at high speed will ruin your day. I did find some loose metal shaving in cheap computer desktop cases in the past, so you cannot rule it out.
Second issue, that was not raised, is the same one as using compressed air to clean and dry bearings. It is very easy to over-rev them with the air jet. That can damage them. Same for fans in the computer.
I remember at least three motherboards and several keyboards that I ended up dismantling and cleaning with soap and running water, isopropil and then warm air dry for several days. They all survived. Got the procedure from a failure analysis company and this was part of a testing standard!
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